Hello 2023

JANUARY 1, 2023 / KAYDENE GREEN

“There is only one way to eat an elephant: a bite at a time”

– Desmond Mpilo Tutu

Good bye 2022.

It’s been a year for the books and boy oh boy… have I learned and grown exponentially. If I were to give this year a rating it would be a 6.0 out of 10 and if I am going to choose honesty, the real rating is probably closer to a solid 5.0

I opted to throw in an extra point for the sake of practicing gratitude.

Truth is, many things sucked and sucked really badly about 2022, but the lessons gained are invaluable.

As I sit and reflect on another expired year and all the memories it has left behind and what is ahead of me, I am left to wonder… where do I begin? What am I setting out to achieve and how do I intend on doing it?

Now is a good time to become overwhelmed and inundated by the pressures of the “new ambitions”.

Desmond Tutu once wisely said, “there is only one way to eat an elephant: a bite at a time.” I deduct that Desmond used the metaphor of an elephant to mean anything grand that we are faced with or choose to tackle, whether it be a challenge, a goal, or anything that will require an extended period of time and effort to be completed, dealt with, or achieved.

Of all the valuable lessons I’ve learned in 2022 , three of the standouts are:

• Be present
• Be mindful and
• If it adds no value to my life, be ok with saying goodbye to it

I received the advice to be present when I was too overwhelmed by a past I could not change, to be mindful when I only wanted to see situations through the lens of my own worldview and limited perspective, and removing invaluables from my life as I’ve come to realize that anything that does not enhance my space or help me become a better version of myself only serves as clutter whether it be thoughts, things, or sadly even people. This is not to say we only keep people around who are doing things for us. But the real question is, do these people mean you well?

A clutter free life has proven to be a happier and more meaningful one.

I typically try to come up with a word of the year but I’ve concluded a more fitting question I will ask throughout 2023 is…”Does it add value to my life?”

A Prayer for 2023:

Creator of this universe, God I thank you for another year, a year many did not live long enough to see.

One thing I know is that I do not know what the future holds for me but because I know that you do, I put my entire trust in your guidance in the steps I should take no matter what comes my way.

All my dreams, aspirations and goals I commit to you asking for your help to bring them to fruition for I know that I need to take the steps to get there and not just sit and expect you to do for me what you’ve enabled me to do on my own.

Remind me of the lessons of 2022, to be more present, mindful, and intentional about who and what I invest my time and energy in or allow to take up space in my life and lead me to the resources that will help me in those areas.

Help me with discipline and perseverance and remind me that you’ve made me a creative being to innovate and to do my part in creating order out of disorder in this world as you have done when you created an entire universe out of chaos.

Help me with discernment and wisdom this year and balance in who I am and in all I do.

Remind me that when my world seems to be falling apart, to turn to you, the creator of the world.

God I thank you for all the things and people you have placed in my life who mean me well, both the ones I’ve known for a while and the ones I’ve recently met or have not met as yet. Please protect and bless them.

Help me to always see the opportunity to be a blessing to someone and to remember that it is more blessed to give than it is to receive.

I claim a year with only your best for me and help me to know what that looks like. Thank you for being so faithful to me no matter how many times I’ve been a disappointment and help me to remember your mercies are new each morning.

You deserve all the praise, all the honor and all the glory. In your mostly Holy name I pray, amen.

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Photo by Anna-Louise on Pexels.com

Have a happy new year all! All the best for 2023! Whatever you set out to achieve this year, do so with Tutu’s advise in mind… one bite at a time.

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God bless.

Last Updated: 1/8/2023